Ohio State University Study Finds Solar Project Tax Alternative More Beneficial for Knox County Than Property Tax.

An independent academic analysis from the Ohio State University has found that a property-tax alternative chosen by Knox County, Ohio, will likely provide it more financial benefits from a proposed solar project than the property tax option. The analysis contradicts claims by critics that the payments in lieu of taxes plan for the 120 megawatt Frasier Solar project is a bad deal for the county. Economics professor Brent Sohngen, who has been researching the economics of solar development, found that the arrangement would boost the county’s revenue under all but one scenario. This study is in contrast to an analysis by the conservative Buckeye Institute, which claimed the plan would “shortchange taxpayers”. The Buckeye institute declined to provide the data underlying its assumptions. The payments also don’t reduce local governments’ needs-based education funding like property taxes would.